15 years later, 9/11 firefighter honored in funeral

NEW YORK -- A funeral was held Friday for an FDNY battalion chief who died at the World Trade Center on 9/11.

The funeral for Lawrence Stack was at Saints Philip and James Roman Catholic Church, in St. James on Long Island.

Stack, 58, was assigned to the New York City Fire Department Safety Battalion. He was killed as he responded to the World Trade Center. His remains were never found.

But nearly 15 years after his death, Stack's family reached out to the New York Blood Center, where Stack often donated, and the center confirmed that it still had blood he had given. It was returned to Stack's family.

With the physical remains, the family decided to hold the funeral. "Now we can lay him to rest," said his son, FDNY Lt. Michael Stack.

Lawrence Stack served the FDNY for 33 years and was one of 343 members who died on 9/11. He was first assigned to ladder companies in Brooklyn. In 1981, he was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to Ladder Company 35 in Manhattan. Three years later, he became a captain and worked in the Bronx. He then became a battalion chief, working in Queens, the Bureau of Operations and the Safety Battalion.

According to the FDNY, Stack served in the United States Navy for six years, including a tour of duty in the Vietnam War.

Stack is survived by his wife, Theresa; and his sons, Michael Stack, and firefighter Brian Stack of Ladder Company 123.